Science and technology

New aerosol sampling and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) analysis techniques were used to develop an enhanced method for measuring PAH associated with size-segregated atmospheric aerosols. A micro-orifice impactor was used to collect aerosols from Boston and rural Massachusetts. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry were used to identify and quantify PAH with molecular weights between 178-302. PAH were distributed among aerosol size fractions based on molecular weight in urban samples, while low and high molecular weight PAH were associated with both fine and coarse aerosols in rural samples.

The distributions of five peaks of size-segregated atmospheric aerosol samples analyzed for C24H14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) with respect to particle size appear to be bimodal with the majority of the mass associated with accumulation mode particles and a smaller fraction of the mass associated with ultrafine mode particles. Results reveal that C24H14 PAH repetition to larger particles occurs more rapidly through vaporization and sorption.

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, Industrial Organic Chemicals, Air Pollution Control R&D, Cyclic Crude and Intermediate Manufacturing, Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Massachusetts, Air pollution, Air pollution research, Pollution control research, Atmospheric research